CNN/ORC poll: Democrats lose 2014 edge following Obamacare uproar  —  Washington (CNN) - What a difference a month makes.  —  A new CNN/ORC International poll indicates a dramatic turnaround in the battle for control of Congress in next year's midterm elections.

Family Says They Did Tip Gay Server, Didn't Leave Note  —  After a gay server at a New Jersey restaurant said a customer denied her a tip and wrote her a hateful note on the receipt, a local family contacted NBC 4 New York and said their receipt shows they paid a tip and didn't write any such note.

CBS News' Lara Logan Taking Leave Of Absence Over Discredited ‘60 Minutes’ Benghazi Report  —  NEW YORK — Jeff Fager, chairman of CBS News and executive producer of '"60 Minutes," informed staff Tuesday that Lara Logan and her producer, Max McClellan, would be taking a leave of absence following …

Almost 80 million with employer health care plans could have coverage canceled, experts predict  —  Almost 80 million people with employer health plans could find their coverage canceled because they are not compliant with ObamaCare, several experts predicted.

Julian Assange unlikely to face U.S. charges over publishing classified documents  —  The Justice Department has all but concluded it will not bring charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for publishing classified documents because government lawyers said they could not do so without …

Obama's pivot No. 5 this year  —  The White House, for at least the fifth time this year, is seeking to pivot to the economy, this time in a bid to change the subject from the disastrous rollout of ObamaCare.  —  It's a common play for the White House, which frequently seeks to refocus attention …

Pope Francis calls unfettered capitalism ‘tyranny’ and urges rich to share wealth  —  Pontiff's first major publication calls on global leaders to guarantee work, education and healthcare  —  Pope Francis has attacked unfettered capitalism as “a new tyranny”, urging global leaders …

Mark Halperin: Obamacare Contains “Death Panels”  —  NEWSMAX: The Affordable Care Act contains provisions for “death panels,” which decide which critically-ill patients receive care and which won't, according to Mark Halperin, senior political analyst for Time magazine.  “It's built into the plan.

John Kerry opened secret channel to Iran  —  Quiet diplomacy helped lead to deal on Tehran's nuclear program  —  WASHINGTON — It was early December 2011 and the US Senate was poised to hold a crucial vote on the nomination of Richard Cordray to head President Obama's controversial new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Tom Corbett's numbers continue to sink  —  Pennsylvania GOP Gov. Tom Corbett has been in trouble all year, and a new poll out Tuesday suggests he's trailing even the unknown Democratic candidates by double digits.  —  The poll, from the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling …

Among American workers, poll finds unprecedented anxiety about jobs, economy  —  Will Figg/For The Washington Post - John Stewart works at the Philadelphia International Airport escorting passengers in wheelchairs.  The job pays $5.25 an hour, plus tips.  “I'm glad I don't have a family,” Stewart said.

Supreme Court to review contraceptive coverage mandate  —  The Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to consider a new challenge to President Obama's Affordable Care Act and decide whether employers with religious objections may refuse to provide their workers with mandated insurance coverage of contraceptives.

Tea party unscathed in early GOP civil war  —  The Republican civil war erupted into full view this fall, and the establishment looked like it was about to shove the movement back in line.  —  But the early skirmishes ended with the tea party no weaker than it was.

The Boys Who Cried “Munich”  —  Was it really only 55 days ago that the world—including the part inhabited by Republicans—rolled its collective eyes at U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry bizarrely mischaracterizing the decision whether or not to bomb the regime in Syria as our latest …

Which Side of the Barricade Are You On?  —  Democratic strategist Doug Sosnik was a close adviser to President Bill Clinton, and he's famed in Washington circles for his closely held, big-think memos on the state of American politics.  We got our hands on his latest—in which he warns …

Trey Radel: ‘People coming & harassing me’  —  U.S. Rep. Trey Radel at Hazelden  —  A day after Collier and Lee Republicans called for his resignation, U.S. Rep. Trey Radel took a smoke break at his treatment facility in downtown Naples and said he's being harassed as he tries to focus on his health.

Pair of American B-52 Bombers Fly Over Disputed Island Chain  —  WASHINGTON—A pair of American B-52 bombers flew over a disputed island chain in the East China Sea without informing Beijing, U.S. officials said Tuesday, in a direct challenge to China and its establishment of an expanded air-defense zone.

‘Do-nothing’ Congress on track for one of the least productive years ever  —  It's not quite a “do nothing” Congress - but it's not far off.  —  With only a handful of remaining legislative days on their calendar, this current Congress is on track to go down as one of the most unproductive in modern history.